{"id":292140,"date":"2023-06-01T06:35:21","date_gmt":"2023-06-01T11:35:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=292140"},"modified":"2024-08-07T08:26:22","modified_gmt":"2024-08-07T13:26:22","slug":"minnesota-funding-pregnancy-resource-centers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/minnesota-funding-pregnancy-resource-centers\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota eliminates funding for pregnancy resource centers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Minnesota’s recently-passed budget is ending a program which has provided millions of dollars in aid to pregnancy resource centers (PRCs) since 2005.<\/p>\n

Lawmakers in both the House and the Senate passed the budget on May 22, and it was later signed<\/a> by Governor Tim Walz. Within the bill is the repeal of Positive Alternatives, a grant program under the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for “life-affirming organizations offering support to pregnant women.” According to Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life<\/a>, the program offered $3.357 million annually to pregnancy resource centers around the state.<\/p>\n

Pregnancy resource centers have increasingly come under attack, both in Minnesota and around the nation. Last August, state Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a “consumer warning” against PRCs, claiming<\/a> that they are \u201cprivate organizations that seek to prevent people from accessing abortion care as well as contraceptives.\u201d<\/p>\n

In January, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signaled a possible repeal of the program when he told Minnesota Public Radio<\/a> that the grant recipients provided \u201cmisinformation\u201d to pregnant women who \u201cdeserve to have the whole picture.\u201d<\/p>\n

This mindset appeared to be the driving force behind the program’s appeal. \u201cMDH recognizes the importance of supporting comprehensive and accurate reproductive information and health care and in supporting families with young children to thrive. Repeal of this section will end a program that does not support this goal,” an MDH spokesperson told the National Catholic Register<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Walgreens<\/a><\/p>\n

While abortion advocates vilify PRCs because they do not offer abortion, what they do offer women and families is countless services that make it possible for them to choose life, including pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, maternity and baby items, formula, diapers, prenatal care, counseling, financial assistance, housing assistance, and much more. Many even have licensed medical professionals on staff. A\u00a0report<\/a> published by the Charlotte Lozier Institute found that these centers have saved over 800,000 lives in five years by providing practical help and resources.<\/span><\/p>\n